Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back: causes, treatment, what to do when the shoulder blade hurts

Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back is a very unpleasant phenomenon that impairs a person’s mobility and impairs his performance.It has been noted that in some pathologies such discomfort can persist even while a person is resting.However, this symptom does not always indicate the presence of a complex back pathology.Sometimes it is provoked by a banal long-term stay in a physiologically incorrect position.

General anatomical information

So, if you look at the back from the back, you can see that the left shoulder blade is fixed on the ribs that make up the chest.Between each of them there is a nerve and blood vessels located in the recesses.The ribs are connected to each other by ligaments and muscles.

Closer to the center of the shoulder blade is the spine, inside which the spinal cord is located.All the nerves come from him.The back muscles surrounding the shoulder blade are quite well developed.Its purpose is to protect the left lung, heart, spleen, stomach and pancreas, as well as the thoracic aorta.

What factors provoke pain?

Pain under the left shoulder blade from the back can be caused by the following factors:

1. Stomach ulcer.Here the nature of the back pain increases, it is associated with meals, but after an attack of vomiting it becomes weaker.An additional sign that it is the ulcer that provokes pain is the presence of belching or heartburn.Discomfort is felt not only in the left shoulder blade, but can also radiate to the sternum and left nipple.In this case, the patient is simply not able to move normally.Strong discomfort prevents him from taking a deep breath, so the person cannot relax completely, which entails other equally serious dysfunctions of the body and nervous system.If the pain on the left side of the back manifests itself too sharply, then you should immediately contact an ambulance.
2. Acute pancreatitis.It can also cause quite severe pain in the left side of the back under the shoulder blade.The sensations have their own character, in this case overwhelming, sudden.
3. Vegetative crisis.The manifestation of symptoms here is very clear.In addition to pain in the back left in the back, a person has a feeling of chest compression, heat in the same area, and the inability to establish the exact location of the discomfort.The patient is unable to breathe normally and experiences an increased feeling of anxiety and fear.It cannot be said that in such a state it will be possible to accurately determine the location of pain.It often radiates to other parts of the body, even to the lower abdomen.The patient experiences a feeling of a lump in the throat and suffocation.
4. Myocardial infarction.It also causes severe pain in the area of the left shoulder blade from the back.This condition is often life-threatening, so it needs to be recognized in time and treatment started.The patient experiences a burning sensation and is unable to take a deep breath.The intensity of pain on the left side of the back is very high, the patient does not respond to glycerol trinitrate, and the pathological condition itself lasts more than 10 minutes.The disease is characterized by the fact that the patient’s hand often goes numb during an attack.
5. Angina pectoris.This cardiac pathology is also characterized by the presence of pain under the shoulder blade on the left side of the back.The pain is sharp, squeezing the chest.The cause of this disease is considered to be a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels.The attack is provoked by physical activity, hypothermia, and consumption of alcoholic beverages.Glycerol trinitrate can weaken it.
6. Pathologies of the respiratory system.If a person feels constant pain from the back under the left shoulder blade, the cause of this condition is pneumonia or dry pleurisy.At the same time, unpleasant sensations accompany every deep breath, cough, and sneeze.The pain will always be directed towards the affected lung.Its character can vary depending on the severity of the pathology: it can be insignificant or become cutting and piercing.
7. Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta.Because of it, the load on the valve between the left atrium and the ventricle increases.At the same time, the heart cannot cope with its functions as quickly as necessary.This provokes stagnation of venous blood in the lungs, and their edema develops.At the point where the aneurysm attaches to the vessel, its wall becomes thinner and can rupture at any time.This will cause serious bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
8. Biphasic splenic rupture.This reason is considered very rare, but it does occur.When the tissue of the organ is damaged, the patient develops abdominal bleeding, which is almost impossible to stop.This disease requires immediate surgical treatment.

These pathologies must be recognized as quickly as possible.Otherwise, without receiving proper medical care, a person may die.

What diseases of the musculoskeletal system provoke pain?

Damage to the spine or other parts of the skeleton can cause pain under the left shoulder blade from behind.The following reasons for the development of discomfort can be identified:

• Osteochondrosis of the neck.At the beginning of the development of the disease, the patient’s sensations are difficult to determine, but they are directed towards those nerve roots that are damaged.The pain is spontaneous, nagging, and may go away after taking a warm bath.In the neck area, severe pinching of nerves and blood vessels subsequently occurs, which does not go unnoticed.An additional symptom of the pathology is that the pain radiates to the arm.Osteochondrosis of the neck develops most often in those people who intentionally or forcedly lead a passive, sedentary lifestyle.As for the nature of the pain syndrome, there may be aching or stabbing under the shoulder blade.
• Damage to the intercostal nerves.The presented condition is considered a common cause of back pain under the shoulder blade on the left.Taking a deep breath, coughing, and bending to the left side increases the pain syndrome.The sensations are very sharp, strong, shooting.If the pathology progresses, then the pain under the shoulder blade from behind becomes burning.
• Scapular-costal syndrome.The sensation is usually aching, pulling.Discomfort is localized in the area above and below the shoulder blade, below the shoulders.A feature of the pathology is that a crunching sound can be heard while moving the arm and shoulder.The cause of this disease is very strong physical stress, injury to the specified part of the body, and hypothermia.
• A malignant tumor affecting the skeleton.In this case, the tumor itself or its metastases are localized on the scapula.
• Scapular crunch.This disease is not observed very often and affects the subscapular bursa.The pain here is not of high intensity.But during movement, a crunching sound is heard in the area of the shoulder blade.
• Osteomyelitis, arising as a result of a specific injury, for example: injury from a weapon.
• Humeroscapular periarthritis.If it has a simple form of development, then the sensations will not stand out too clearly.Symptoms are usually detected only with some movement.During the acute stage of development, the pathology is characterized by an increase in appearance, especially at night.At the same time, mobility in the shoulder is limited, an increase in basal temperature is observed, and the muscles spasm.

Pain under the left shoulder blade can be a symptom of severe pathology, especially if it is burning, sharp or stabbing in nature.Even pregnancy can provoke a pathological condition.This period is characterized by the fact that the female body experiences enormous stress.

An injury can trigger pain in the back under the left shoulder blade: a fracture, a crack.Here the discomfort is aching in nature, and with movement there is a tendency to intensify it.Psychosomatic reasons for the development of such a pathological condition are quite often noted.The provoking factor here is severe emotional or psychological stress, which the body is not able to adequately cope with.The peculiarity of this reason is that even a negative attitude of the patient towards the symptoms can worsen his well-being even more.

Classification of unpleasant sensations

Before starting treatment for a pathological condition, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence.The nature of the pain syndrome is also important for diagnosis.It could be:

1. Encircling.In this case, the discomfort is localized in one place.A person feels it all the time.The patient cannot breathe normally, as this leads to an increase in the syndrome.The slightest movement or cough can provoke a deterioration in the patient’s condition.The nature of the pain is provoked by the passage of a nerve impulse between the ribs.
2. Burning.The victim may experience numbness in certain areas of the skin and a tingling sensation in the body.
3. Growing.Here the pain from under the shoulder blade on the side of the back will radiate into the arm.Increased muscle tone in the shoulder and back can provoke these symptoms.
4. Spicy.Here the intensity of pain behind the left shoulder blade is considered very high.Often the patient cannot breathe, it is difficult for him to lie on his left side, movements become unbearable.

5. Cutting.It is first localized on the left, and then moves to the center.
6. Dull, aching painin the left shoulder blade.It usually occurs when you raise your arm.
7. Pullingpain syndrome.It often “spreads” from the shoulder blade to the lumbar spine.
8. Cutting.
9. Constant pain, which does not allow you to breathe normally, lie down, or make movements.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of different types of discomfort.Therefore, it will not be possible to accurately determine the cause of the development of pathology on your own.That is, if there is pain, the patient needs to see a doctor and undergo a thorough examination.

Features of disease diagnosis

If the patient feels a dull pain and begins to ache in the area of the left shoulder blade, treatment begins with a full examination.Diagnostics involves the following procedures:

• X-ray of the spine, and it is performed in several projections.The image may also show problems with the lungs.
• Computed tomography.
• MRI.
• If there are cardiac symptoms, the patient is prescribed an ECG.
• Ultrasound of internal organs.
• Instrumental examination of pulse and blood pressure.
• Biochemical and general blood test.

After examination and determination of the cause of the pathological condition, the patient is prescribed treatment.He may also need to consult a cardiologist or gastroenterologist.

How to properly treat the disease?

Naturally, if the patient begins to ache in the back of the left shoulder blade, he cannot take a deep breath, he should begin therapy.Methods for eliminating pain under the left shoulder blade are determined by the factors that triggered the development of the pathological process.It is not enough to simply eliminate the symptoms, as they will quickly reappear.

Any disease is characterized by its own symptoms, therefore the treatment regimen is always different.However, each of them contains important recommendations for maintaining a daily routine and diet.Naturally, dull pain is treated with the use of medications.

If conservative therapy does not provide positive dynamics, surgery is indicated for the patient.For example, a hernia of significant size, a rupture of the spleen, or a stomach ulcer accompanied by internal bleeding must be surgically treated.

If pain provokes pregnancy, then you should rest more and consult a gynecologist.

When should you go to the hospital?

So, if discomfort is constantly present, and with deep breathing it becomes stronger and begins to radiate to the arm and other parts of the body, you should immediately consult with specialists.Simply treating symptoms will only make the situation worse as the disease continues to progress.

Even if the patient knows the cause of his condition, he should not immediately run to a specialist.It is better to consult with a therapist, who will direct you where you need to go.

Preventive measures

It is impossible to completely insure yourself against all diseases.However, you can try to avoid those factors that will cause deterioration in health.For example, you should eat right, do daily exercise to keep your body toned and train your muscles.If you have sedentary work, warm-up is periodically required.Naturally, it is better to avoid all kinds of injuries.

If you know why it hurts under the left shoulder blade at the back, then you can start effective treatment in time.Naturally, some pathologies, especially degenerative-dystrophic ones, cannot be completely overcome.However, proper therapy will help slow their progression.Be healthy and do not neglect the advice of specialists!